Top spinning apparatus



Nov. 12, 1968 L.'|. BEHL TOP SPINNING APPARATUS Filed July 13, 1966 Leonard l.

INVENTOR Beh/ United States Patent O 3,416,022 TOP SPINNING APPARATUS Leonard I. Behl, Kansas City, Kans., assignor of one-half to William l?. Evans, Kansas City, Mo. Filed Iluly 13, 1966, Ser. No. 564,902 9 Claims. (Cl. 46-72) This invention relates to top spinning apparatus and also to a game utilizing such apparatus.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a spinning apparatus capable of spinning a top without the necessity of complicated torquing, latching, and releasing components.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a top spinning apparatus of the aforementioned character wherein the spinning top is smoothly ejected from the apparatus so that maximum spinning energy is imparted to the top.

An important object of my invention is to provide top spinning apparatus wherein the spinning means cooperates with top retention structure in a novel manner to hold the top while spinning rotation is initially imparted to the top and then to release the top for spinning on a playing surface.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a game adapted for use in combination with top spinning apparatus, such as that described above, the game being constructed specifically to test a players skill at manipulating a board to move a top spinning thereon with controlled accuracy to specified locations and bringing the spinning top to rest at such locations.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of top spinning apparatus made pursuant to the present invention, showing the same holding a top above a playing surface;

FIG. 2 is a substantially central, vertical, cross-sectionai view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a reduced perspective view of a game adapted for use with the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-3.

The top spinning apparatus of the present invention, broadly designated by the reference numeral 1i), includes a plurality of leg support members 12 having corresponding vertical, lower portions 14 adapted to rest on a playing surface 16, and inwardly inclined upper portions 18 which present a lower open area 20 between legs 12. The inner edges of upper portions 153 are rigidly secured to a vertically extending sleeve element 22 which overlies open area 20 and has a cylindrical bore 24 therein which includes a lower portion 2S and an upper portion 27, the latter having a smaller diameter and being connected to lower portion 25 by an inclined annular shoulder 28 which is tapered inwardly as the upper end is approached.

A cylindrical shaft element 26 is telescoped within bore 24 for longitudinal reciprocation therein and is similarly tapered to define a shoulder 30 and thereby present complemental inclined facing surfaces on sleeve 22 and shaft 26. The upper portion of shaft 26 extends above the top abutment 32 of sleeve 22 and is rigidly secured to a cylindrical knob 34 having a lower annular edge 36.

Holding structure is provided at the lowermost end of shaft 26 and comprises an integral peripheral sidewall 38 opening downwardly to present a cylindrical recess 40. An elongated, vertical slot 42 is formed in shaft 26 and extends through sidewall 38 to present a pair of opposed slit openings 44. Resilient means for spinning the top may be in the form of a conventional elastic rubber band 46 which is extended through slit-s 44 to present a pair of end loops 48 which are adapted to fit within corresponding notches 50 formed in a pair of opposed legs 12.

Apparatus 10 is adapted for spinning a top, such as that illustrated in FIG. 1 and designated by the numeral 52,

wherein is provided an upper cylindrical shank 56 and a conical lower face 54 terminating in an apex 58. In use, -a player inserts shank 56 into recess 40 and grips knob 34 to shift shaft 26 to a lower position permitting relative rotation between shaft 26 and sleeve 22 (FIG. 2). The player then manually turns knob 34 to rotate shaft 26 in one direction about its longitudinal axis with respect to sleeve 22, causing the proximal portions of band `46 to circumscribe sidewall 38 and compress the latter so that the inner surface of sidewall 38 frictionally engages shank 56 to hold top 52 above surface 16. Slits 44 facilitate the compression of sidewall 38. As band 46 is circumscribed about sidewall 38 it is stretched to impart a tangential force acting on shaft 26 which places a torque on shaft 26 having a turning effect measured by the product of the tangential force and the radius of sidewall 38. Of course, the stretched band 46y urges rotation of shaft 26 with respect to sleeve 22 in the opposite direction of initial rotation about the longitudinal axis of shaft 26. Thus, band 46 serves the combined functions of compressing sidewall 38 to hold top 52 and simultaneously placing a torque on shaft 26.

After shaft 26 is sufficiently torqued and top 52 frictionally retained by sidewall 38, the player grasps knob 34 and longitudinally shifts shaft 26 upwardly to place tapered shoulders 28 and 30 in frictional interengagement to preclude relative rotation between shaft 26 and sleeve .22. Shaft 26 and sleeve 22 are preferably formed of materials exhibiting a high coeilicient of friction to assure positive interengagement. Satisfactory results have been achieved by constructing sleeve 22 from commonly available plastic material and shaft 26 from wood, with shoulders 28 and 30 being tapered at about 10.

Apparatus 10 is thereby in a cocked position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, with shaft 26 being torqued in preparation for spinning top 52. The player then sets legs 12 on playing surface 16 with shaft 56 substantially vertical and shifts knob 34 downwardly to disengage shoulders 28 and 30 and thereby permit relative rotation between shaft 26 and sleeve 22. The force imparted by band 46 then acts to spin shaft 26 about its longitudinal axis to impart a rotating inertia to top 52. As band 46 unwinds about sidewall 38, th-e compression on the latter is progressively decreased and sidewall 38 expands until top 52 is permitted to drop from recess 40 to playing surface 16 for spinning on apex 58 by virtue of the aforementioned rotating inertia.

Preferably, shaft 26 is shifted from its upper cocked position to the lower rotating position by striking knob 34 with a mallet or the like to instantaneously shift lower edge 36 of knob 34 into impactive engagement with abutment 32 of sleeve 22. While shaft 26 is shifting downwardly, it will rotate in response to the torque thereon, since shoulders 28 and 30 are no longer in frictional engagement. Band `4-6 is suiciently unwound when edge 36 strikes abutement 32 so that the downward inertia imparted to top 52 will cause the top to eject from recess 40 for spinning on playing surface 16. The ejecting of top 52 effects a smooth disengagement of top 52 from apparatus 10 and thereby enhances its spinning action.

Apparatus 10 may be used with a game such as that illustrated in FIG. 1, utilizing a board 66 having an upper playing surface 62. There are a plurality of depressions or apertures 64, each smaller than the diameter of top 52, formed in the board at various spaced locations over surface 62 and extending therethrough. Apparatus 10 is placed on surface 62 in a cocked position, whereupon a player strikes knob 34 with a mallet 66 to eject top 52 onto playing surface 62. The player then removes apparatus 16 and grasps the edges of board 60 to selectively tilt the latter to direct the spinning top 52 to one of the apertures 64 in an attempt to seat or land top S2 therein. The game is thus particularly suitable for testing a players skill at manipulating the board with manual dexterity and balance. Since apparatus l may conveniently be formed in the shape of a rocket ship as illustrated in the drawing, playing surface 62 of board 6G may desirably be provided with indicia illustrating the solar system, with apertures 64 representing various celestial bodies. A player who successfully moves a spinning top to one of the apertures 64 and keeps the top in the aperture until it cornes to rest, may be said to have made a landing on the celestial body represented by the aperture.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent 1. Apparatus for spinning a top on a playing surface, said apparatus comprising:

a support;

a pair of relatively telescoped elements, one of the elements being carried in a vertical position by the support above the playing surface, the elements including facing surfaces configured to permit longitudinal shifting of the other element between an upper position for placing the surfaces in frictional interengagement precluding relative rotation therebetween and a lower position permitting relative rotation therebetween;

resilient means coupled between the support and other element for placing a torque on the latter when it is rotated in one direction about its longitudinal axis with respect to said one element, the torque urging rotation of said other element with respect to said one element about said axis in the opposite direction; and

holding structure operably coupled to said resilient means to hold a top above the playing surface when said other element is torqued, and to release the top for spinning on the surface when said other element is rotated in said opposite direction in response to said torque.

2. The invention of claim 1, there being an abutment on said one element and an edge on said other element, the surface and edge being positioned for impactive cngagement when said other element is shifted from said upper position to said lower position to eject the top from said structure toward the playing surface.

3. The invention of claim 1, said elements comprising a sleeve and shaft, the latter being reciprocable within the sleeve, said support carrying the sleeve.

4. The invention of claim 3, said facing surfaces of the sleeve and shaft being cylindrical and tapering inwardly as the upper ends thereof are approached so that upward shifting of the shaft effects said frictional engagement.

S. Apparatus for spinning a top on a playing surface, said apparatus comprising:

a vertically extending element;

a support rotatably carrying said element above the surface for rotation of the element about its longitudinal axis with respect to the support;

a iiexible, peripheral sidewall on the lowermost end of the shaft, the sidewall opening downwardly to lpresent a recess for receiving a portion of the top;

resilient means connected between the support and element for placing a torque on the latter when it is rotated in one direction about said axis with respect to said support, the torque urging rotation of the element with respect to said one element about said axis in the opposite direction, the resilient means being coupled to said sidewall to compress the latter to frictionally engage the top to hold the same when said element is torqued, and to release the top for spinning on said surface when said element is rotated in said opposite direction in response to said torque.

6. The invention of claim 5, said sidewall being provided with an opening to facilitate compression thereof.

7. The invention of claim 5, said resilient means comprising an elastic band intercoupling the support and the outer surface of the sidewall whereby, when the element is rotated in said one direction, the band circumscribes the sidewall to compress the same.

8. The invention of claim 7, said support including a pair of members on opposed sides of said sidewall, said sidewall being provided with a pair of vertically extending slits, said band extending through the slits and connected at the opposed ends to corresponding members.

9. The invention of claim 5, said support including a sleeve, the element comprising a shaft telescoped within the sleeve, the elements including facing surfaces configure-d to permit longitudinal shifting of the shaft between an upper position for placing the surfaces in frictional interengagement precluding relative rotation therebetween and a lower position permitting relative rotation therebetween.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9,333,544 9/1909 Frear 46-69 1,011,817 12/1911 Kowsky 46-69 2,857,163 10/1958 Lykes 46-72 X LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner'.

R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR SPINNING A TOP ON A PLAYING SURFACE, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: A SUPPORT; A PAIR OF RELATIVELY TELESCOPED ELEMENTS, ONE OF THE ELEMENTS BEING CARRIED IN A VERTICAL POSITION BY THE SUPPORT ABOVE THE PLAYING SURFACE, THE ELEMENTS INCLUDING FACING SURFACES CONFIGURED TO PERMIT LONGITUDINAL SHIFTING OF THE OTHER ELEMENT BETWEEN AN UPPER POSITION FOR PLACING THE SURFACES IN FRICTIONAL INTERENGAGEMENT PRECLUDING RELATIVE ROTATION THEREBETWEEN AND A LOWER POSITION PERMITTING RELATIVE ROTATION THEREBETWEEN; RESILIENT MEANS COUPLED BETWEEN THE SUPPORT AND OTHER ELEMENT FOR PLACING A TORQUE ON THE LATTER WHEN IT IS ROTATED IN ONE DIRECTION ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS WITH RESPECT TO SAID ONE ELEMENT, THE TORQUE URGING ROTATION OF SAID OTHER ELEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID ONE ELEMENT ABOUT SAID AXIS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION; AND HOLDING STRUCTURE OPERABLY COUPLED TO SAID RESILIENT MEANS TO HOLD A TOP ABOVE THE PLAYING SURFACE WHEN SAID OTHER ELEMENT IS TORQUED, AND TO RELEASE THE TOP FOR SPINNING ON THE SURFACE WHEN SAID OTHER ELEMENT IS ROTATED IN SAID OPPOSITE DIRECTION IN RESPONSE TO SAID TORQUE. 